Slide-door-operating device



Aug. 3l, 1926.

H.LB cooK SLIDE DOOR PERATINGv DEVICE Filed Jam. 23, 1925 2Sheets-Sheetl 1 www# (amm/man H.B. cooK SLIDE DOOR OPERATING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2,3, 1925 @New Patented Aug. 3l, i926.

UNTED .STATES WARNER ELEVATOR MFG.

sLInE-Dooa-ornanrrire revien.

Application filed January 23, 1%'5- Sera-1 No. 4,132`3.

The invention relates to improvements in slide door operating mechanismparticularly adaptable for elevator doors.

An object of the invention is to render available the stored energy of aspring for moving a sliding door from either ot two eXtreme positions toa mid-position under an accelerated motion so that the momentum of themoving door will carry it beyond the mid-position and with theassistance of a slight manual pressure the 4door is easily translated to,an .eX-treme opposite position with the spring again placed under fulltension for the reverse operation, thereby relieving the operator fromapplying any excessive torce for moving 4the door, facilitating theoperation and atan .increased rate of speed over a complete manualoperation.

Another objectlot the invention is to provide .a pair of toggle linksfor operating a .sliding door to open `and closed positions y which willlock the door in either of its alternate positions and further in whichthe .door is released and moved toa :mid-position by lifting or movingthe links v.in one direction and 'continuing for a full movement of the`door by moving these links'in an opposite or downward direction. I

YAnother .object of :the invention `is to* utilize the stored energy of-the spring ory .springs for .applying the thrust tomove for .slide `the:door when released and to accelerate this movement to a mid-.positionto the relief of the operator., the spring .swinging with the Amovementof the door to alternate sides of the central or neutral line` so thatthe .spring .is tensioned as the door is moved to its sliding limits.

Further objects and advantages of .the invention will be more fully setforth in the description of the accompanying drawing forming part of.this specilication, in which: Figure l isa rear or inside elevation of.the elevator door in vclosed position containing the improved dooroperating mechanism.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereoi". Figure B is an enlarged sectionAon line SH3 of Figure l.

`Figure 4L is ,an enlarged horizontal section through one ot the springend supporting brackets.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-.-5 of Figure a.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates `a door frame or Jopeningstructure of `an elevator passway, :a hanger track or rail as Van anglebar suitably securedl to 4the door .framing at the upper end of the doorextending longitudinally across the door opening for supporting andtracking the sliding door 3. The door is mounted upon the rail 2 by .apair of roller carrying hangers 4, l, rsuitably i'iXed or secured to theupper end or' the door. The lower end of the door is guided in a trackgroove formed by `a pair of spaced channel bars 5, 5, secured to thesill plate ofthe door framing. The door mounting or hanging fixtures andtracks may .be of .any eonventional or commercial form adaptable forsliding door service, Athe door hanging fixtures lshown herein being ofa simple and durable .type highly adapted for heavy elevator doors. Y

The door is operated byy apair of toggle arms or links 67 7, in .theinstanceV shown relatively of diiterent .lengths .to obtain the desireddoor controlling functions and to meet a given dimension of door widthand length oli' door controlling throw. The links operate to lock thedoor Yin both open and closed positions a release effected .by movingone of the links upwardly ,and a lock byv moving the links downwardly.The toggle as a unit at one end is pivotally connected withA astationary or` lixed support as secured to the door frame and at theopposite end pivotal-ly upon the door. ln the capacity for a door asshown the longer link G at one end pivotally connects to a supportingbracket 8 secured to the elevator dependingly door framing and at its.Aopposite end is provided with an angle joint 9 rigidly lixed to thelink and pivotally connecting with one end of the second or shorter link7. This provides an opposite connectionl for the center or joint of thetoggle links enabling the links and particularly the link 7 to be swungto appropriate alternate posi-tions without interference. The oppositeend of the link? is pivotally secured to the supporting bracket l0 fixedto the door -preferablyl centrally ot the door with and at a slightlylower elevation than the connection of the link 6 with the 'stationarybracket 8 to incline the links downwardlypwhen lthe door is in itsclosed position. Connecting the link 7 with the door at a pointcentrally of its width distributes the sliding thrust in movement of thedoor from the toggle links to avoid tilting of the door, which wouldinterfere with its free sliding motion.

The door is shown as of solid panel structure primarily for freightelevator service and the size rand weight of doors of such class iscontinuously increasing until the thrust required by the operator tomove them is becoming excessive. riherefore, energy means in the form ofsprings connecting with the door are employed for assisting andtranslating the door and increasing the speed of translation to therelief of the operator. Preferably twocylindrical springs ll, l2,connecting with and respectively disposed at opposite upper and lowerends of the door are employed, two being employed vfor the purpose ofequalizing the action of the door and reducing their size and thereforeare similar in construction and number.

One end of the springs respectively is pivotally yconnected to albracket 13 fixed to the door preferably centrally of itsywidth and theopposite end of the spring isrpivotally connected to a bracket 14secured to the door opening framing, the bracket le being located at therear end of the door when in closed position or intermediate of thelength of door throw so that the springs are under full tension when thedoor is in either of its alternate open or closed positions; Vhen thedoor is in its closed position the toggle links 6 and 7 are in anextended or relatively linear position as shown in full lines 1n Figurel, locking the door 1n such position and in a relatively angularposition as represented in dot and` dash lines a and b of Figure 1,likewise locking the door in its open position. In the extreme positionsof the door the springs are flexed to a degree to oer suiiicient tensionor energy to move the doors when releasedy by the toggle links to amid-position from which the motion of theA door can be continued by adownward pressure brought upon the link 6. To open the door theoperatorswings the toggle links upwardly by raising the toggle link 6 whichaction unlocks and slides the door, the sliding being aided'andaccelerated by the springs until thev door reaches a mid-position atwhich the springs have' movedV slightly bevond ar vertical position,

the door under such movement having accumulated energy or motion ormomentum suficient to `carry the door to bring the springs beyond avertical position and likewise carry the toggle links to a relativelyangular position as shown in dot and dash vlines c, d, of Figure l,whereupon when a` vdownward pressure or movement is appliedV by theoperator upon the link 6 to overcome friction and supply the energyrequired for extending the springs and bringing the toggle-links to adoor locking and opening position with the springs under full tensionthe operation of closing the door is similarly performed, the operatorkraising the link 6 to break the locking position of the toggle linkswith the released tension ofthe springs and move the door in an oppositedirection, which motion is continued by the operator again pressing downon the link 6 after the link 7 has been moved or swung to one side of adead center or vertical position.

Having described my invention, I claim: l. In a a sliding door, Y a pairof toggle links hingedly united and as a unit having one end fulcrumedto a stationary support and' the opposite end to the door, adapted to beswung to relative positions for holding the door in alternate openv orclosed positions, and tension means connecting with said door effectivefor moving the door to a midposition from either of its alternatepositions.

2. The combination with a sliding door and a spring .having one end Xedto the door and the opposite to a stationary support, and at a pointmidway of the alternate sliding limits of the door whereby ,the springis under tension when the door is at either of its sliding limits,foraccelerating the door translation to its mid-position when released, andmeans for locking the door at its translating limits.

3. In combination with a door casing, a door slidable across the casing,tension means connecting with the ldoor effective for moving the door toa mid position from either of alternate positionsa pair of toggle linkshingedly united, the free ends of the links respectively pivoted to thecasing and door, said links substantially, alignable for locking thedoor at one sliding limit, and further adapted to release the door andallow travel to an opposite limit, with the door-attached member,passing beneath the casing attached member across the hinging points forholding the door` at that limit by doyvnward pressure on the casingattached lin r.

Ll. In a sliding door operating mechanism, a door casing, a doorslidable in the casing, tension meansconnecting with said door effectiveformoving the door to a mid position from either of alternate positions,a pair of toggle links hingedly united, having one end of one linkfulcrumed to said casing and the end of the other link fulcrumed to thedoor, with the links alignable to lock the door at one of itsslidinglimits,

and further adapted tov be swung from substantially aligned lockingposition, upwardly to release the door, and kfurther adapted to hold thedoor at an opposite limit by downward pressure upon the casing attachedlink, after the passage of the door attached link across the pivotalpoint of the links.

5. In combination with a door frame, a door mounted to oscillate acrosssaid frame to block either side thereof, tension members adapted toimpart harmonic motion to the oscillations of the door when unimpeded,manually operable members secured to said door for imparting frictionovercoming force thereto, and for controlling said oscillations.

6. In combination with a door frame, a door mounted to oscillate acrosssaid frame to block either side thereof, springs pivoted between thecenter of the frame and the center of the door, said springs adapted to*impart harmonic motion to the oscillations of the door when unimpeded,Vmanually operable members secured to said door for imparting frictionovercoming force thereto, and for controlling said oscillations.

7. In combination with a door frame, a door mounted to oscillate acrosssaid frame to block either side thereof, tension members adapted toimpart Vharmonic motion to the oscillations of the door when unimpeded,and a toggle lever pivoted between the door and frame, said toggle leveradapted to be manually operated to impart friction overcoming force tothe oscillations of the door, and hold the door stationary at oneextreme position by the alignment of the toggle members.

8. In combination with a door frame, ai door mounted to oscillate acrosssaid frame to block either side thereof, springs pivoted between thecenter of the frame and the center of the door, said springs adapted toimpart harmonic motion to the oscillations of the door when unimpeded,and a toggle lever pivoted between the door'and frame, said toggle leveradapted to be manuallyV operated to impart friction overcoming force tothe oscillations of the door, iold the door stationary at one eXtremeposition by the alignment of the toggle members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HOWARD B. OOOK.

and

